WoodMaxx Flail - Early Issues

[KWentling]

Still no word back from WoodMaxx.

I took the mower off the tractor, and disconnected the PTO. This led to me finding that the gear box was almost completely loose from the mower. There are 4 bolts (M12) that come up from inside the mower compartment and hold the gear box down, two were missing (NOT broken off) and two were loose. This would obviously effect belt alignment and tension, but it is worth noting that the movement allowed by this looseness is separate from the play in the driveshaft. There is still play in the driveshaft as well, without the gearbox moving. It basically seems like this thing was rattling itself apart inn 3 ours of use.

I know that manuals call for checking the tightness of nuts/bolts, etc. at crazy intervals, but this seems. bit over the top. I wasn't supposed to take the thing apart to check every fastener, right?

The manual says to check tightness before the first use and after 2 hours of use. Did you do that? Should you have to? Looks like Woodmaxx ought to consider using locktite on their bolts.

 

[Lee Robinson]

The Allen bolts for the compression pulley have to be tightened up in the correct sequence so you need to be careful and find out what the required torque for the bolts are.

The other thing is they have either a dry torque foot pound or a lubricated torque foot pound rating for the compression sleeve to work correctly.

If you do not have them you need to buy a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench and an allen socket for the allen bolts on the compression sleeve.

They obviously did not do the tightening sequence for the Allen bolts on the compression sleeve.

It also looks like the allen bolts have been damaged AND the compression sleeve is not flush with the pulley-it looks cockeyed as the compression sleeve seems to be casting a shadow.


I guess my feeling is have them come and get it and then ask for a complete refund and go to the local Maschio dealer in Maine for a Maschio flail mower.

Maschio flail mowers in the compact tractor size are made in China. If one is going to get a China flail mower, might as well save some money as Betstco seems to be pretty nice and costs a lot less.

 

[Kwehme09]

Still no word from WoodMaxx. I emailed 2-days ago to ask if they got my email with photos and video and he said Yes and to “bear with him.” Silence since then. The useless attachment is just taking up space in my barn.

 

[Skagit]

You do realize that probably everyone there is off this week and also it's only been what, 5 days? I think I'd take a chill pill for a minute. Hopefully they get it get taken care of quickly for you but you have to realize that they're not Amazon. The guy in the service department that I've talked to was actually pretty helpful for what that's worth.

FYI if you read the flail mower thread most of the people that buy these say to retorque all the bolts and put loctite on them. I've had two of them and I would give you the same advice short of actually taking things apart to put loctite on them. I don't do that but I do check all the bolts that I can get to and I do put loctite on the hitch frame bolts when I put that together.

 

[leonz]

The MASCHIO GASPARDO Group builds thier flail mowers in Italy, Thay also have a manufacturing plant in Asia.

 

[Kwehme09]

You do realize that probably everyone there is off this week and also it's only been what, 5 days? I think I'd take a chill pill for a minute. Hopefully they get it get taken care of quickly for you but you have to realize that they're not Amazon. The guy in the service department that I've talked to was actually pretty helpful for what that's worth.

FYI if you read the flail mower thread most of the people that buy these say to retorque all the bolts and put loctite on them. I've had two of them and I would give you the same advice short of actually taking things apart to put loctite on them. I don't do that but I do check all the bolts that I can get to and I do put loctite on the hitch frame bolts when I put that together.

I'm not going to apologize for having a bit of angst over a $3k piece of equipment being useless after 3 hours of use. I bought it because I needed it. I paid for new because I wanted some peace of mind. I understand the Holidays and time off. They've been responsive (so they are there and working) but just haven't told me what they are going to do about it. It would be nice to know where I am going from here.

As for torquing everything down and adding loctite, that just doesn't seem reasonable. Exposed parts I get, but I am not going to disassemble and reassemble the entire piece of equipment. At that point they might as well make it clear that they are just sending me parts and I need to assemble the entire machine myself. Running it for a bit and then checking tightness is one thing, having it rattle apart in the field between 1 hour and 3 hours of use with multiple points of failure is another.

 

[Gregster613]

Kwehme09, Sorry to hear about your troubles. I don't even have a flail mower, but if I bought a "new" piece of equipment - like you - I would expect it to be assembled correctly from the factory at the very least on the insides of it! I'd check all exterior bolts for tightness a couple of times but that's it. It is holiday time now so expect delays but I do hope Woodmaxx will set you right. Good luck. Greg

 

[Lee Robinson]

The MASCHIO GASPARDO Group builds thier flail mowers in Italy, Thay also have a manufacturing plant in Asia.

The ones for their compact tractors are made in China

 

[Lee Robinson]

I'm not going to apologize for having a bit of angst over a $3k piece of equipment being useless after 3 hours of use. I bought it because I needed it. I paid for new because I wanted some peace of mind. I understand the Holidays and time off. They've been responsive (so they are there and working) but just haven't told me what they are going to do about it. It would be nice to know where I am going from here.

As for torquing everything down and adding loctite, that just doesn't seem reasonable. Exposed parts I get, but I am not going to disassemble and reassemble the entire piece of equipment. At that point they might as well make it clear that they are just sending me parts and I need to assemble the entire machine myself. Running it for a bit and then checking tightness is one thing, having it rattle apart in the field between 1 hour and 3 hours of use with multiple points of failure is another.

I looked at Woodmax before buying my AGL-145...and saw a few complaints. I hope they resolve your issues once the holiday is over

 

[Billrog]

I've been mowing over 10 acres of brush with a woodmax now for 2 yrs. and it's still going strong no loose bolts. Not as good of a machine as the Howard I used for 18 yrs. but so far does the job and I do check the bolts. Tall thick brush will cause problems you have to mow it down in 2 passes or it will just jam up in the flail smoking the belts and possibly other damage.